Monday, December 29, 2008

No one is safe in Rogers Park. Residents STILL frustrated.

bumped:

I know the Chicago Journal, The Bench and I covered this news already. But Will Livesley-O'Neill pens a good article for the Loyola Phoenix this week regarding the Town Hall meeting on Public Safety last week. Click the source/read more link highlighted below for some really good photos that were taken at the meeting too.
* Once the audience question-and-comment segment of the meeting began, concerned citizen after concerned citizen took to the microphone to demand more aggressive policing. Several residents voiced concern about the drug deals on Morse Avenue, which many felt take place out in the open, in full view of the neighborhood.

"Residents accused the neighborhood leaders of doing little to solve the problem....."

"Many residents seemingly frustrated with the answers they were hearing from the panel....."

"Few in the audience seemed satisfied with the answers they had heard, or by the safety of Rogers Park......"

"One man's story of being mugged "200 feet from Joe [Moore]'s office" ended the meeting on a discouraging note...."
Source/read more.

Blognotes: I've also been told Joe Moore hasn't been to one board meeting at Sullivan Fight School. He didn't email the principle like he said he did. Quite frankly, Joe Moore hasn't lifted his finger one bit to help solve the Sullivan Fight School crisis. At this point, even if he did try to help, he'd screw it up worse than it is. Because Joe Moore is a lame-duck alderman and the frustrated residents no longer trust his spoken word.

29 comments:

Craig Gernhardt said...

Meetings like this prove Joe Moore has lost control of his ward.

Joe Moore proves once again he's not qualified to do a job some 4000 bone-headed people thought he was capable of doing. Just goes to show you how gullible this community is when listening to politicians.

Craig Gernhardt said...

Other than learning to send out emails to many people at once, Joe Moore hasn't accomplished much since getting re-elected.

Craig Gernhardt said...

==="Many residents seemingly frustrated with the answers they were hearing from the panel....."

They're getting tired of being lied to, too.

Craig Gernhardt said...

The media is really beating up on Joe Moore this week. Anyone want to bet Jimmy the publisher will come to the rescue?

Razldazlrr said...

He deserves to be beat up - he wasn't elected to travel around the country or talk - he was elected to actually DO something. Thank God that you hold him accountable and his feet to the fire!

proGun said...

At the last 2431 Caps meeting we requested that the principle and students be invited to the town hall meeting.
I was personally unable to attend the town hall meeting but several of the clergy that I invited did attend.
They were hoping to hear about how they could assist in providing alternative after school programs and how the could apply for the faith based initiatives offered by the Bush administration and to be continued by the Obama administration.
None of that information was available.
The fact is there is to much crime in this neighborhood and not enough good youth services.

Oh yes MCL the faith based initiatives are flourishing in the wealthy suburbs.
Your money my money helping New Trier and others where over privileged youths are sent on field trips and lots of youth enrichment programs. The youths in our neighborhood get crack cocaine and street fighting lessons.

Anonymous said...

OK, a Southsider must comment.

The South Side is full of native South-siders.

The North-Side is full of transplants.

Let's face it if anyone locates to Chicago for the first time they never consider the South-Side, ever!

Many Northsiders aren't natives, and very rarely 2nd, 3rd etc generation natives to the area.

South Siders know for at least a generation or so how to avoid crime. Although some is unavoidable (cross fire for a gang related issue, but this unfortunately involves children who need their parents to educate them on when something is going to go down, or if it looks like something may)

South siders know how to hang on to their purses, look for something going down, know how to look for suspicious people, know not to even leave empty bags in their cars. This was another post of yours reminding people not to leave things in plane sight in their cars after many car break-ins.

Muggings, hang on tight to your purses/bags/etc, when crossing the street watch out for someone crossing the street coming towards you, then will go to your purse/bag side and ram into you just on that side, for example you are crossing the street someone is coming towards you on your purse side(let's say left) take one step right if possible, but hang on tight to your bag under your arm and take your right hand and grab the strap, they are trying to bang it loose.

Ok, so that is a South Side crime tip of the day.

Also if someone is coming up behing you fast, turn around, this will deter the from behind, and always hang on to your stuff tight! Zig zag at random, walk a little to the left, the right to see if someone is really going to mug you or is suspicious, if they follow your moves, cross the street or do something.


Bonus south side tip

mcl said...

proGun
All the faith based initiatives in the world will not come close to solving our anti-social/criminal street problems. It's as effective as holding a 'prayer service memorial' on the street after a street shooting. The real solution to most of these problems is to end drug prohibition: http://nhna.blogspot.com/2008/12/must-read_05.html
Happy 75th Anniversary!

Hillari said...

Third Generation Chicago Native,

I grew up mostly on the West Side of this city (although as a toddler, I did live in the Old Town/Near North area). Believe me, West Siders are hip to avoiding crime whenever possible, too.

I do agree that a lot of Northsiders appear to be transplants from other areas of Illinois or the USA. It seems to especially true of those who live in the more upscale areas of the North Side, like the Gold Coast, for example.

However, there are other North and Northwest side neighborhoods that are hotbeds of crime. Rogers Park is one of them, unfortunately. It's just that those neighborhoods don't get as much press like the South and West Sides do when something jumps off over there.

I've long said that people need to be more observant around RP when they are out and about. But that doesn't mean that everybody over is not safety conscious. I don't blame folks here for being fed up; things have gotten out of control.

BillyJoe'sBrain said...

Yeah, those south siders really know how avoid crime. Just don't stand in one spot too long or let your kids go to the playground and they/you won't get shot. Third Generation, I find your ideas interesting and would like to subscribe to your newsletter...

Man On The Street said...

Ok, now that we have ideas on how to AVOID crime, what about ENDING it?

Unknown said...

Wow, thanks for the tips! Will you be working to resolve the economic crisis next? As a dumb transplant, I've been wandering the hood in the middle of the night with John Mellenkamp blasting on my iPod and approaching those playful groups of youths hanging on the corner asking for directions. I never thought about observing my surroundings and avoiding all those sketchy looking folks.

But what do you expect? I didn't grow up in Chicago, how could I possibly have any common sense??

I wish RP was more like the south side where natives use their super street smarts and don't have to worry about being a victim of crime.

CNB said...

Nice followup, Craig. The quote in the Phoenix from Caluris is confusing: "If we, as police, ever have to make an arrest, we've already failed, because there's already a victim," he said.
I wonder if Caluris counts a bunch of cops nearly arresting a guy for riding his bike on a sidewalk. Where's the victim? Seems in that case the cops created a victim. Good riddance to Caluris.

Big Daddy said...

One day I was riding my bike down Sheridan (on the sidewalk)when I was confronted by a group of seniors who started beefing about my riding the bicycle on the sidewalk. I apologized and calmed them down after promising never to do it again which I haven't. They did however tell me about several seniors who have been knocked down by careless riders and how important it is too keep the bikes off the sidewalk. So while it may seem trivial to the rest of us, there is a good reason to have, obey and enforce this law. So my friend, they did not create a victim when they locked that guy up. They may have however prevented a senior from injury.

Craig Gernhardt said...

The person he's talking about was me.

I was found not guilty.

SouthOfPratt said...

The quote in the Phoenix from Caluris is confusing: "If we, as police, ever have to make an arrest, we've already failed, because there's already a victim," he said.

How many times are we told at CAPS meeting that the police cannot do anything unless a crime was comitted?

Santino said...

The townhall meeting was a complete joke. Nothing but skirting around the serious crime issues in RP. It's time for Guliani tactics in the 24th District. It's also time for the Chicago gun ban to be taken down. We as residents of any city in this country should be armed!

Anonymous said...

BillyJoe's Brain,

Wow that is the attitude us South Siders get....oh that reminds me cough,cough I have to go to the neighborhood meeting to help make sure we schedule a shooter on one corner in each intersection cough, cough that's been working really well to keep non South Siders out of our side of town.....But seriously, that's the attitude people have about the South Side, with the exception of South Siders of course.

I am a female and have been on the El's Orange, Green and Red on the South Side all hours of the day and night without incidence. I have been on all the local buses, South Halsted, South Pulaski, South State Street, Archer etc, etc. all by myself without incident.

The South Side is not that bad, REALLY!

But seriously, we don't have the horrific traffic, congestion and parking problems the North Side has, our El's and buses are not moving Sardine cans, like that on the North Side, so if people want to transplat to Chicago and they always go North, hey! That's better for us South Siders we don't need the dense population issues the North Side has.

Also Boxing Tomboy gets it, but the West side has the reputation as a place not to transplant to, not as bad as the South Side but a close secound. The West side is seeing some gentrification due to the Medical Center district sprawl, and being close to Oak Park, etc. Actually K town is pretty decent.

Anyhow, knowing the north side is full of transplants I was just offering some South Side Advice, thought maybe it might help a few people.

Fargo said...

responses to multiple comments...

Meetings like this prove Joe Moore has lost control of his ward.

This implies that Joe was ever in control, which has never been the case IMO.

Joe Moore proves once again he's not qualified to do a job some 4000 bone-headed people thought he was capable of doing.

Which many of us have known for years.

The South Side is full of native South-siders. The North-Side is full of transplants.

It ain't necessarily so. There are lots of transplants from the north side living in Beverly and some in Bronzeville and Hyde Park, too.

Plenty of folks in Rogers Park know how to keep their eyes and ears open. Some of the recent condo buyers from Wrigleyville might need a few tips.

Big Daddy said...

I know it was you. I know you were found not guilty. That doesn't mean you were not guilty. I was just sayin. There is a reason for the ban on bicycles on the sidewalk. Ask any senior up here and they will tell you.

South of Pratt- the person that told you that lied. Apparently they never heard of proactive policing. Or did you mean to say no victim?

Big Daddy said...

The only thing that the southside has that resembles civilzation are train crossings and trucks.

Oh, I almost forgot. They have the World Series Champion Chicago White Sox. Go Sox!

Chicago rules said...

Is no one else shocked, and a bit sickened, by the stereotypical and segregationist tone of Third Generation's comments? This is part of the problem, and residents feed into this, and seem to be proud of it.

MadeInRogersPark said...

'lOST CONTROL' IMPLIES HE ONCE HAD CONTROL. HE HAS NEVER HAD CONTROL HE ONLY HAS USED THIS POSITION TO FURTHER HIS OWN DEPRESSED DELUSION HE IS GOING FARTHER IN THE POLITICAL REALM LIKE 'TO Washington
DC' or Springfield - Seriously
Does he even now the name of the principal of Sullivan!
Wasn't Joe influential in the selection of the principal at the 'NEW FIELD SCHOOL' on Morse Avenue. Her rating was the worst principal in CPS!!!! Nice eh!

Principal Atria ( Joe) is a Doctor of Education. Does he honestly believe his presences outside could be beneficial. He is probably another administrator that hides behind the curtain - not unlike the 'GREAT AND POWERFUL OZ!'
When teenagers are held accountable, when their education is meaningful they don't carry on like they are today. When they know the teachers care about them and work hard to improve their situations will they buy in to what we are trying to sell - EDUCATION!

Shame shame shame shame on the fools and jesters that pretend to care about the future.

Ryne said...

"Ok, now that we have ideas on how to AVOID crime, what about ENDING it?"

Ladies & Gentlemen the best way start putting an "end" to crime, is to vote little joey moore out of voice.

We all know that there will always be "crime" but haveing an aldermen that cares & works to clean up the ward will make the 49th ward a better place to live!

Unknown said...

Bikes on sidewalk - bad idea - I can't tell you how many people expect me to move over with my 2 big dogs so they can get by - hint - I usually don't.
I didn't live up here when Moore was elected but it baffles me how he was - I used to watch him on TV and think what a goof he was!

Anonymous said...

Chicago rules does not like my attitude.

Well we all know most people who visit Chicago or transplant here don't go south of Hyde Park. And yes Beverly is a very upscale South Side's version of the Gold Coast on the North side.

No matter where I go outside of the South Side, and I tell people from out of the County, State or South Side I get a negative attitude.

Being a lifelone Southsider, I have experienced plenty of bad attitudes for South Siders, most Northsiders wish the South Side would fall into lake Michigan (now South of Bronzeville) and South siders would be coho chow.

Working in the loop I have run into many North side transplants who wonder how I make it back to work alive the next day after day especially when they hear of shootings etc. Many would never, ever come to my area, they are afraid for their lives, cars, etc.

There is nothing like being on the South Side when the whole bus or El is full of people after a White Sox game, Venetian night, Taste of Chicago, Bears game etc. Everyone is laughing and joking with each other, even though most of us have never met. I have been on north side buses and El's after such events, quite an uptight crowd that only associates with the people they went as a group with.

Anyhow I have a March 25th post on my blog about the way Southsiders and Northsiders behave. This one involves children, and I can say I have experienced this myself, when in Northside establishments verses Southside establishments.

floss said...

Joe himself trades favors for campaign monies. He does not have a firm gasp on right vs wrong.

It is no surprise that stopping crime isn't a big priority with him.

BillyJoe'sBrain said...

Third Generation

Actually, the attitude has to do with you and not the south side. This meme of yours that the north side is unsafe while the south side is some kind of paradise unspoiled by the evils of "density" and "parking problems" is laughable. I'd be willing to bet that the majority of trouble makers in Rogers Park originated from your awesome south side. Cough cough. And there's a reason that your part of town has less density. Thanks for taking time away from your heavily trafficed blog to help us north side rubes.

lafew said...

Well, I guess that I must be one of the few fourth generation Chicago natives left, Ms. Third Generation Chicagoan with three generations in Rogers Park. However, we became residents just after the fire. Milwaukee was just not busy enough. Then, there are the Yankee roots. Ironically, I also support immigration, so I'm a native but not a nativist.

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